2.5.21 £1,200 donated to CIIC appeal, QEHB

"In memory of David Bleach, who who passed away at QEHB 2.2.21 following a gallant crusade against Colon Cancer. We thank the surgical teams, Oncology service and Nursing staff at QEHB who helped him 'keep on going' for so long. Money was raised in his memory by family & friends via Justgiving page https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/david-bleach-in-memory-of-a-maestro He was, and we are truly grateful to QEHB, and hope we can in a small way assist in contribution towards treatment and a cure for this horrid disease".

Why we are raising funds in memory of Maestro .....

Our Dad always lead a very full and active life – in his first ‘Act’, he went to the Birmingham School of Music, after gaining grade 8 piano at an early age. He became Church Organist and Choir Master of a local Methodist Church, whilst qualifying as a Secondary School Music Teacher. If not enough, still in his 20's, he took on the role of Musical Director for the 'Dunlop Amateur Theatre Company' (a theatre company set up originally for the employees of the old Birmingham Dunlop Tyre factory), and then became a founder member of the Musical Theatre Company, ‘Argosy’. Alongside his 'day job' he both taught musical score and conducted their orchestra, putting on performances over many decades, at the Old Birmingham Repertory Theatre, and then the Birmingham Crescent Theatre - favourites from Gilbert & Sullivan and Rodger's & Hammerstein to name but a few. When not teaching or preparing to be on stage, he taught piano, accompanied piano for pupils on music examinations, led Choirs as Choir Master, and was Musical Director for numerous school productions along the way.

After ‘retiring from Teaching’ in his 60’s, Part 2 of his music career steamed ahead with further Musical Directorship for musical theatre groups, Community Choirs and with continued service to the Methodist Church. He regularly played piano for performances with Selly Park Singers and Cantano Voices. In fact we joked, that well into his 70’s and 80’s, our father had a greater social life than my brother and I, as his music continued to take up his ‘days and nights’, so whenever we called for a chat, he was rarely in!!!

It was of note, Dad was always fit and healthy – always on the go, never taking a day off sick in all his working life. He walked wherever possible, and his preferred method of transport was always the bus – leaving his car unused for days and weeks at a time. He had a good diet – always made a point of eating his ‘greens’. He had his regular favourite glass of red wine – Merlot. He had his famous head of black bushy hair – which in his 80’s hardly had a hint of grey, whilst ‘some of us’ younger members of the family were spending a fortune on hair dyes!

With such continued 'vitality' and energy, it came therefore as a bit of a shock when around Christmas 2017 ‘out of the blue’, Dad said he was undergoing some hospital tests. I went with him to get the results. When the word ‘Cancer’ was used, Dad very matter of fact asked what the plan would be. The Consultant said a major operation, which in itself was "not without risks". Dad asked immediately, and if that does not work what is the plan then? The Consultant then very clearly stated that there would be no other treatment, as due to the side effects, they generally did not offer Chemo to people of his age. Then the Consultant then broke further news. During the scans they had picked up a ‘second life threatening condition’, that Dad had been unaware of. He had a huge aortic aneurysm in the middle of his abdomen, which he was told could burst at any time.

He never grumbled, he never complained, but just said what had to be done had to be done. He was above all overwhelmingly grateful for the 2 surgical teams and Oncology service at QEHB who worked together over many months to save his life. Dad took the information in his stride and ‘carried on’ playing his music, whilst he waited for two major/life threatening operations.

The next few months were tough. But as before, Dad did not tell many people what he was going through. He survived both surgeries and almost immediately he was back ‘playing the organ’ for Sunday service, and thinking about the next choir practice he was due to play the piano for ……… As people will now know, the following Summer his Cancer returned. Despite his age,, Dad had not 1 but 2 cycles of chemotherapy, challenging the previous belief Drs felt he would be unable to tolerate it. ‘Dad being Dad’ even arranged his Chemotherapy appointments around the days of the week when he was due to take part in choir practice, so not to let other people down. He dealt with his side effects like a trooper. He lost his famous hair. But in Dad's true fashion, it grew back even more velvety and thicker than before! Then just when we all thought treatment was coming to an end, and he could recover, he was given another blow. Drs then advised Radiotherapy and Liver Ablation – Dad carried on, still playing his piano and singing his tune,

2020 was a challenging year for many. Dad, however, now nearly 84 years old was becoming frail – partly due to age, but undoubtedly due to the onslaught his body had received over the preceding 2 years. Nevertheless he still played his music for the joy of others. He still committed himself to playing the organ at Northfield Methodist Church and Cambridge Road when ever he could. In March 2020, he had moved from playing the piano, to singing in the chorus of ‘Tinkers Farm Opera' for their forthcoming production of ‘Guys & Dolls’. Sadly, if it were not for Covid Lockdown, which cut rehearsals in their track, this would have been his final performance ……

What has become clear in the recent weeks is that Dad had a talent that stretched not only over the decades of his whole life, but one that gave joy and pleasure to many - to people of all ages, and through whatever genre of music they desire. People have described him as a quiet ‘gentleman’, and have written about a respect that he never quite knew ……

There is for us great sadness in this tale, that due to the horrid circumstances of Covid 19, we as family were not able to spend time with our dad in his final months and weeks as we would have otherwise have liked ...... restrictions on movement, and the fear of passing Covid to him with all his vulnerabilities, were final cruel twists in his fight. It was agonising when restrictions meant we were unable to visit him when he was in hospital.

On a similar note, due to Covid restrictions, so many people who were important to him, and wishing to say a fond farewell, are unable to attend his funeral service on March 5th. As we plan our simple goodbye, given our restrictions, as a simple touch, we shall be 'leaving his batton with him', and to each and everyone of you, we say thank you for your friendships and support you gave Dad, and in particular, the encouragement and strength you gave him in his final years. We truly believe without his music, he would not have won the fight for so long.

We take this moment to say we would very much like to thank Penny, Dad's close friend and support, who was there for Dad when we were unable to be with him, due to distance and Covid restrictions. We are so appreciative of everything you did for him ..... We know Dad was too.

We are told by many he could play 'Crown Imperial' on the Organ like no other. We will therefore be playing this in his honour as part of his 'final bow', on March 5th, along with other favourites demonstrating the variety of his music taste: Elgar's Nimrod, and Alicia Keys, Empire State of Mind (Part II) Broken Down. For those who wish they could be present - and sadly cannot be, maybe spend a minute that day to light a candle, raise a glass of Merlot, or hum a tune?

For those who wish to learn more about our fundraising, tributes to our ‘Maestro’, and how to take part in a forthcoming ‘Music’ event - a 'Grand Finale' , we plan to hold in 2022 in his memory, please see David Bleach | Music Maestro website, which has started it's production (see link below),

https://davidbleach.co.uk/

Giving thanks, and wishing you all health & happiness,

Susan & Andrew

~ Along with members of the teaching and music community, for whom he served, we know Dad will be truly missed by Penny, and many other close friends - you all know who you are,

On a final note, he will be missed deeply by his daughter Susan, son Andrew, grandsons Eddie & Leon, & families, niece Pam, nephew Richard, & their loving families.

https://www.hospitalcharity.org/ciic

Why donate to this particular charity in memory of our dad?

In theatre 'tragedy' is a term whereby sadness & sorrow falls on a central character .... Cancer is a tragedy, not only to the central character, but also to those around them, those who love and care for them. Fittingly, today we are benefiting from the science that has led to vaccinations against another horrid disease Covid, - wouldn't it be a standing ovation of a legacy, to help forward scientific research towards a similar 'simple' approach, to safeguard us all against Cancer ?